In the musical, “Fiddler on the Roof” there is a rousing song, called “To Life.”

Repeated over and over again is “L’Chaim,” meaning “To Life.”

I think about that as we will be beginning, “The Long Green Season” in the church.

Generally after Pentecost and Trinity Sundays, the paraments are colored green. On our planet, green is the color of life, as the nature renews itself with spring and summer. I have green eyes, and if you know of any others, you can tell them the represent only 9% of the US population and 2% of folk worldwide.

“The “Long Green Season” is also called “The Time of the Church” as it marks the time after its birthday on Pentecost. Pentecost is that wonderful festival when the disciples, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit tell a diverse gathering in Jerusalem “the mighty acts of God” and they are heard in the language of each hearer.

I like to joke that when I traveled to the Holy Land, I experienced, a mini Pentecost, In our hotel room, the TV had channels is a number of diffident languages. I turned on the German channel and watched a comedy show where Kelly Ripa was a guest star. You haven’t lived until you have heard Kelly Ripa speaking perfect German.

Pentecost Sunday is usually followed by Trinity Sunday, celebrating the diversity of the Godhead. God creates, forgives and strengthens and this seen in the Persons of the Trinity.

“Variety is the Spice the Life” and nature will teach us this lesson in all the different flowers and plants we will see growing. Sports events, concerts and fairs will be staffed and frequently by different people from different back grounds. Summer holidays will celebrate veterans, freedom, Fathers and labor. Our backyard alone play hosts to numerous types of bird and animals. Viva diversity!

Math always keep me off the on the honor roll. I always joke, “Life is too short to have one answer only to every problem.”

I learned a lesson is diversity one summer while visiting New York City. It was June 14, Flag Day, which is also the anniversary of the founding of the United States Army. We were attending an outdoor taping of “The Today Show.”

In honor of the two holidays flags were being passed out by soldiers in attendance. There was also large birthday cake. Matt Lauer would say something to the effect of “Now in honor of Flag Day and the Birthday of the Army, Sergeant Hazel will make a presentation.”

After the presentation, I would go, taking my driver’s license and introduce myself to Sergeant Hazel. “I’m your long-lost cousin,” I would say. Sergeant Hazel would turn out to be one of the beautiful black women I’ve ever met. “Well, we all go back to Adam and Eve, don’t we?” she joked. The encounter brought a smile to this pale faced old Dutchman.

The diversity of life never ceases to amaze me, in our new Lutheran worship resource, “All creation Sings,” there is a hymn entitled, “Earth is Full of Wit and Wisdom” by Adam M.L. Tice. It sings to the tune, “Holy Manna.”

“Earth is full of wit and wisdom

Sounding God’s delighted laugh.

From the tiny roly poly to the tree top tall giraffe,

All creation sings in wonder,

Even rocks and trees rejoice

As they join the singing chorus,

Echoes of the Master’s voice.”

Someone who could see the hand of the Divine in the diminutive was William James Bryan. A lawyer, orator and politician. He would write:

“I have observed the power of the water melon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and to itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and the forms inside of it a white rind and within that a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,00 times its weight- when you can explain to me the mystery of the watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God. “

I’ve always been intrigued with the greatness in a little. A baby born in Bethlehem’s manger would turn the world right side up. A word of reassurance in a troubling time can have great power. The laughter of child can warm the cold stone heart.

I was humbled the day that I realized, that the world turns on four little beans, the vanilla bean, the cocoa bean, the coffee bean and the peanut. Small can be beautiful.

In a former parish in Berks County, I had the pleasure of knowing Curtis Dieffenbach. A little fellow himself, he once joked, as I did young people’s messages, “Vun of dees days, Pastor, vhen you call for dee little people to come up, I’m gonna come.”

His sense of humor, diligence in worship, snow plowing abilities, and faithfulness to his church, and community, made him quite the giant of a man. One of his prized possessions was a Model A Ford, I remember riding in the rumble seat during a parade. One little life, with great impact

In this long green season, how will you touch other people’s lives? What person, project or program can you be a part of? Your car may not have a rumble seat, but it can take a neighbor or family member to church, or community function.

Your life experience may be invaluable in a community project or program. The computer is wonderful, but has its limits. The following quote has been attributed to a number of people, including Dr. Seuss and Mother Teresa. Talk about diversity.

“To the world you may

be just one person,

but to one person you may be the world.”

Currently I am planting grass seed and am guided by another “trinity.”

1. Break the ground 2 inches.

2. Water the seed twice a day

3. Water for two weeks.

It never ceases to amaze me when the seeds push through the soil. A little grass seed turns this grizzled senior citizen to a teddy bear. What little thing can you do to make someone’s life better? Your faith may be a “defrost mode” in another’s life.

Also in a former parish, we had a young man confined to a wheelchair. We had a volunteer home care ministry. He was tasked with calling folk to set up appointments and rides. He further developed it into calls of encouragement. Diminutive in the worlds eye, there was a Jesus quality the fellow, taking time with what the world might deem, “the least, the last and the lost.”

Karen Jensen would write. “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.”

In this “Long Green Season,” consider two things, how you can be green in a person’s life, and that little things you do that can have long term consequences to for folk.

May we pray.

Dear God you sent your Son as babe in Bethlehem. His call to the least, the lost and last would signal good news, and spread round the world. His solitary death on a cross, just one among thousands in his day, would save multitudes. Use us we pray, though frail, to be your seeds of sacrifice in the world. Plant in our hearts the desire to sow your love in acts of kindness no matter how small. Be with us, guide us and guard us as we bring your grace to this generation. Hold us, hear us, help us, heal us that we may “go and do likewise.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Keep Up the God Work!

Rev. John F. Hazel Jr. is a retired Palmerton pastor.